Examples of Antisemitic Legislation, 1933–1939

During the first six years of Hitler’s dictatorship, government at every level—Reich, state and municipal—adopted hundreds of laws, decrees, directives, guidelines, and regulations that increasingly restricted the civil and human rights of the Jews in Germany.

1933March 31 Decree of the Berlin city commissioner for health suspends Jewish doctors from the city’s charity services.

April 7 Law for the Reestablishment of the Professional Civil Service removes Jews from government service.

April 7 Law on the Admission to the Legal Profession forbids the admission of Jews to the bar.

April 25 Law against Overcrowding in Schools and Universities limits the number of Jewish students in public schools.

July 14 De-Naturalization Law revokes the citizenship of naturalized Jews and “undesirables.”

October 4 Law on Editors bans Jews from editorial posts.

1935May 21 Army law expels Jewish officers from the army.

September 15 Nazi leaders announce the Nuremberg Laws.

1936January 11 Executive Order on the Reich Tax Law forbids Jews to serve as tax-consultants.

April 3 Reich Veterinarians Law expels Jews from the veterinary profession.

October 15 Reich Ministry of Education bans Jewish teachers from public schools.

1937April 9 The Mayor of Berlin orders public schools not to admit Jewish children until further notice.

1938January 5Law on the Alteration of Family and Personal Names forbids Jews from changing their names.

February 5 Law on the Profession of Auctioneer excludes Jews from this occupation.

March 18 The Gun Law excludes Jewish gun merchants.

April 22Decree against the Camouflage of Jewish Firms forbids changing the names of Jewish-owned businesses.

April 26 Order for the Disclosure of Jewish Assets requires Jews to report all property in excess of 5,000 reichsmarks.

July 11 Reich Ministry of the Interior bans Jews from health spas.

August 17 Executive Order on the Law on the Alteration of Family and Personal Names requires Jews to adopt an additional name: "Sara” for women and “Israel” for men.

October 3 Decree on the Confiscation of Jewish Property regulates the transfer of assets from Jews to non-Jewish Germans.

October 5 The Reich Interior Ministry invalidates all German passports held by Jews. Jews must surrender their old passports, which will become valid only after the letter “J” had been stamped on them.

November 12 Decree on the Exclusion of Jews from German Economic Life closes all Jewish-owned businesses.

November 15 Reich Ministry of Education expels all Jewish children from public schools.

November 28 Reich Ministry of Interior restricts the freedom of movement of Jews.